LA PLATA, Md. — Thirty-nine years after the brutal slaying of a young La Plata woman, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office continues to seek answers in the unsolved homicide of Juanita Rollins. Authorities renewed their public appeal this week as April 2 marked the anniversary of her death.
On April 2, 1987, at approximately 6:30 a.m., officers with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Goose Creek Drive in La Plata for a death investigation. Upon arrival, they located a female suffering from multiple injuries. The victim, identified as Juanita Rollins, 29, a La Plata resident, was transported to an area hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.
Rollins, also known as Jenny to some, was a single mother of two at the time of her death. The case has remained open and unsolved for nearly four decades, one of the oldest cold cases in Charles County. Investigators have reviewed the file repeatedly over the years, and recent advances in forensic technology have given hope that new leads could emerge.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Charles County Crime Solvers are offering a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment in the case. Officials stress that even small details could prove critical after so much time has passed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can be submitted anonymously. The sheriff’s office encourages residents who may recall events from the morning of April 2, 1987, in the Goose Creek Drive neighborhood or who knew Rollins to come forward.
This cold case reflects broader challenges faced by law enforcement in Southern Maryland when investigating homicides from the 1980s, before widespread use of DNA evidence, surveillance cameras and digital records. Goose Creek Drive, a residential area in La Plata, was a quieter community at the time, making the violent attack on a young mother especially shocking to neighbors.
Detectives continue to examine any potential connections or witness statements that may have been overlooked. The passage of time has not diminished the commitment to solving the murder and providing closure to Rollins’ family, who have waited decades for justice.
Southern Maryland communities have seen several long-dormant cases revived through public appeals and modern investigative tools. Officials hope the renewed attention around this anniversary will prompt someone with long-held information to speak up.
The investigation remains active. No additional details about the circumstances of the attack or potential suspects have been released publicly to protect the integrity of the case.
